March 14, 1998

WESTWOOD, Calif.-- Two-time national collegiate champion UCLA (1996, 1997) emphatically defended its No. 1 ranking today with an 11-3 victory over No. 2 Stanford.

Four Bruins notched two goals apiece, and a total of seven players netted points for UCLA. The Bruins' stifling defense, guided by senior goalie Nicolle Payne, held the Cardinal scoreless in the third quarter, and allowed only one goal in seven man-down situations. Payne had five saves.

The Cardinal put three points on the scoreboard, two from Stanford's leading scorer, Ellen Estes, and one from freshman Anne-Marie Keenan. Netkeeper Heather Crary grabbed seven saves.

Today's match-up, the first between Stanford and UCLA in this 1998 campaign, was an MPSF conference match. The win increases UCLA's record to 14-1 overall, 3-0 in conference play. The Bruins have outscored their 1998 opponents 197-53. The Cardinal falls to 10-3 overall, 2-1 in MPSF action.

UCLA will return to the pool tomorrow (Sunday, March 15) for a noon game versus new conference member San Jose State. The Bruins will host UMass on Tuesday and California and UOP next weekend.

Stanford    1 1 0 1= 3
UCLA        3 4 3 1= 11

Stanford: Estes 2, Keenan.
UCLA: Beauregard 2, Gall 2, Guerin 2, 
      Mansur 2, Golaboski, Simmons, von Schwarz.
Saves:  Stan- Crary 7,
        UCLA- Payne 5.